Illuminating electrical indicator



Nov: 4, 1 5 I P. JQRICK, JR 2,858,631

ILLUMINATING ELECTRICAL INDICATOR Filed May 13, 1955 F? JuRm-K .JR

mmvrox Paul Jam'ck Jr AWUENEMS' United States Patent 2,858,631 ILLUMINATENG ELECTRICAL INDICATOR Paul Jorick, Jr., Stamford, Conn., assignor of one-half to Irving Rabinowitz, Stamford, Conn.

Application May 13, 1955, Serial No. 508,143,

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-430) This invention relates to an electrical indicator, and more particularly to a simplified electrical, illuminating indicator for use in a sound producing circuit.

Heretofore, efforts have been made to include in an electrical doorbell system an electrical, illuminating indicator sign to identify the name of the occupant and/ or street number. Such indicators are especially helpful at night or in poorly lighted doorways, areas and the like. However, devices of this type heretofore known were relatively complex, bulky, intricate and rather expensive tomanufacture. As a result they have not become very successful commercially.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simplified, compact and relatively inexpensive,

electrical illuminating indicator for use. in an electrical doorbell system.

It is another object. of this invention to provide a continuously illuminated indicator in combination with an electrical doorbell system, or which may be readily adapted for use with existing doorbell systems.

It is another object of this invention to provide i combination with a sound producing circuit, an electrical, illuminating indicator which is deenergized when the sound producing circuit is'energized.

It is another object of this invention to provide for an illuminating indicator which is made of relatively very few parts, and which may. be assembled and/or disassembled quickly and easily, by hand, without the use of any tools, if necessary.

These objects are accomplished by providing for a housing unit which includes a front plate having identifying indicia thereon and a base plate, the former being pivotally mounted with respect to the latter and forming therewith a pivotal button. Cooperating means are further provided thereon, to normally limit the pivoting movement therebetween. Disposed between the front and base plate is a socket means for locating an electrical lamp to illuminate the front plate and a resilient means positioned adjacent the lamp. The resilient means is arranged so that a portion thereof is in engagement with the lamp forming a contact therewith, and another portion thereof being in engagement with the'front plate to normally urge the latter outwardly. The socket and resilient means are further provided. with means for frictionally connecting theretoconductors and forming therewith a solderless connection. Thus, when the con- "of the lamp is indicative of the sounding of the bell."

A feature of this invention resides in the provision whereby the front plate of the housing functions as a ice . t Z pivotal button for shorting out the lamp and for energizing the sound producing circuit.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a resilient means having a portion which forms an electrical contact with the lamp and another portion which functions as a leaf spring, for normally urging the front wall outwardly, and as a normally open switch for the sound producing circuit.

Another feature resides in the provision of cooperating portions on the base plate and front plate of the housing whereby the saidcoperating portions engage each other for limiting the outwardmov'ement of the front wall, whereby the resilient means is maintained in bias relationship with said front plate.

Another feature of this inventionresides in a socket and resilient means having means forfrictionally securing electrical conductors and forming therewith a solderless connection.

'Another feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein the electrical illuminating indicator, according to this invention, comprises very few parts which are assembled in such a manner that they may be readily assembled and disassembled quickly and easily.

7 Other features and advantages will be apparent from thespecification and claims when considered with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1' is a front elevational view of the simplified illuminating indicator having portions of the front wall broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view taken along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view shown partly in section taken along line 3--3 of Fig.31'. i

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lamp socket means.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the resilient means.

1 Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the electrical sound producing circuit in combination with the improved electrical illuminating indicator. 1

According tothis invention the improved and simplified electrical indicator herein illustrated comprises a housing 10 having a base plate 11 and a front plate 12. While the particular form of the housing may take any desired shape or form, the illustrated embodiment of this invention illustrates a base plate 11 which is substantially rectangular and which is adapted to be supported to any suitable supporting surface 13, as for example a'door or a wall of a building or the like, by any suitable means.

The opposite upper corners of the base plate 11 are pro vided with forwardly projecting ears 14 having rounded ends 15. Alongthe bottom of the base 11 there is provided an offset depending portion 16 which is adapted to be spaced-for the supporting surface, the purpose of which will be hereinafter discussed.

The front plate 12 of the improved indicator of the illustrated embodiment includes a front portion 17 having connected thereto top, bottom and side enclosing walls 18, 19 and 20 respectively. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the front plate 12 is pivotally mounted to the base plate so that the edges of the enclosing wall portion overlap the peripheral portions of the base. plate. While any suitable hinge construction may be .utilized to accomplish this, the ears 14 are provided with a recess 21 for receiving detents 22 positionedon the inner side of the opposite side walls 20. While the housing may be made of any suitable material it is preferred that it be formed of an inexpensive moldable material such as plastic or the like, so that it may be readily cast or formed to facilitate manufacture. It will be further noted that the front portion 17 has thereon identifying indicia 23 which may consist of the name and address or other identifying indicia of the partcular individual whose residence, place 3 of'business, and/or like is to be identified. Either the front portion and/or the identifying indicia is formed of translucent or transparent material so that a light disposed therebehind may pass therethrough and illuminate the indicia. Thus, the indicator is'ren'der'ed readily visible and noticeable at night or in poorly lighted areas.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bottom wall 19is provided with an upstanding flange portion 24 which is in normal engagement with the depending oflfset portion 16 of the base 11. i Thus the flange portion 24 and offset portion of the base form cooperating surfaces for limiting the outward movement of the front plate, as it will be more fully described.

Disposed intermediate the'base and front' plates is a socket means-25 for'positioning therebetween anelectrical larnp 26. "According t-o this invention the socket means-consists of a "substantially -U-'shaped' bracket havmg the leg portion 27 thereof provided'witharcuate por- -tions 27a for holding ther'ebetween the end 26:! of the .light bulb. As'illustrated in Fig. 3 the base of the socket means is provided with an aperture 28 through which a fastener 29 is inserted to secure it to the'bas'e plate. As shown in Fig. 3'the-end of the fastener projecting through the base-plate is recessed so as to provide the base with a smooth contacting surface for securing it'to a supporting surface. Intermediate the arcuate portion 27a of the leg members of the socket means there is provided oppositely formed L-slots 27b for receiving l'ockpins 26b which are usually positioned on the end of an electrical lamp. Thus the lamp is securely positioned in the'socket by aligning the pins with the slots and rotating the bulb a few degrees.

Adjacent the lamp, as best seen in Fig.3 and shown in detail in Fig: there is provided a novel resilient means 30 which functions as an electrical contact for the light 'bulb andalso' has a 'leaf spr'i'ng when normally urging the front plate outwardly to a position limited'by the fiange 24 and offset portion 16. Aswill be hereinafter described the resilient means also functions by a normally open 'switc'h'in the sound producing circuit.

As illustrated 'in detail in Fig. 5, and as assembled in Figsfl to'3, the resilient means 30 includes a substantially U-shaped portion having 'a' leg member '31'p'ositioned adjacent the end of the'la'rnp andin contact 'therewith (Fig. 3). The base 32of-"the U-shaped portion is provided with an'aperture 33 'throu'ghwhi'ch a fastener 34 is positioned to secure it to the base platein a manner similar to that of the socket means. The other leg'35 of-the' Updrtion has connected thereto an extended -portion 35a which 'is laterally bent in the" direction of thelamp 'aiid has connected 'to the' end thereof a second substantially U-shaped portion 3 6, the base 36a of which 1s'-'po"sitio'ned'- at substantially right angles to said first U'-shaped portion. The'second U-shaped'por ti-on 36j'of :the resilient means 'is so arranged that a legportion 36b thereof engages the inner side of the front plate whereby it normally urges the front plate outwardly.

As will be seen in Fig. 3 the other leg portion 360 which formsa continuation of the leg portion 35a is normally spaced from the lamp adjacent the open end of the socket bracket 25. A contact point 37 is positioned on the leg member 31% opposite the light bulb so'when the front plate 12 is pivoted for energizing the sound producing circu'it, the front plate engaging the resilient means displaces theleg portion 36c thereof inwardly so that thecontact point 37 engages the lamp.

'As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the base plate 11 is provided 'withan aperture 38 throughwhich the electrical conductors'f39'and'40 pass and connect to a sourceof electrical energy. The ends *of the conductors are respectively connected to thesoc'ket'ZS and to the resilient means 30. In order tofacilitate the connecting of the conductorsto the' light socket and to the resilient means to form therewith a'circuit, both the socket and the resilient means areprovided with a projecting tab portion-41 and. 42

. :4 respectively which are preferably provided with slits forming the tab with a plurality offingers' 44. Iri'this manner the terminal portions of the connectors are frictionally engaged by alternate fingers of each means to produce therewith a solderless connection. See Figs. 1 and 2. Thus it will be seen that these fingers produce a rigid and fast connection so that the conductors are quickly and easily connected thereto without the aid of any solder or soldering iron.

Accordingly, the illuminating indicator illustrated herein is connected in a sound producing-circuit (see Fig. 6) in a well known manner whereby the lamp is continually illuminated while the conductors are connected to a source of an electrical energy.

When the conductors are so connected the current is continually flowing to the light circuit. Thus when it is desirable to sound the buzzer system, the front plate of the indicator is pivoted as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Inp'ivotin'g'the front plate t-he leg portion 360 of the-resilientrneans is'dis'p'laced so that the'contact point 37 "thereon engages the-base of the lamp. This engagement between the lamp and the contact point causes the 'lamp' to be shorted out at'the circuit 'inthe well known 'm'annen'thus extinguishing the lamp. This shorting of=the lamp en'ables'the current to'become sufiiciently great to sound an audible means45 in the sound producing circuit. Thus, as long'as the sound producing circuit is closed by'pivoting of the front plate, the lamp is extinguished and the operator is aware'that the audible signal is being sounded.

Accordi'ng'to the invention it'will be notedthat the illuminating, electrical indicator hereindescribed is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to produce and is positive in its operation. It is madeofrelatively very few par tswhich can be readily produced in quantity at low cost,-'and further can be readily as's'embled and disassembled, byhand, without-tools, if necessary.

Variations and modifications'maybe made'wi'thin the scope of the claims and portions 'ofthe'impr'ovements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. A simplified electrical,illuminating indicator adapted to be used in' an electrical sound control 'cireuit comprising aba'se plate adapted tdbe'seCuredto asupporting structure, a' front plate pivoted thereto havingtopand bottom and side walls projecting -rearw'ardly therefrom, said bottom wall having a flange portion cooperating with said -b'a'se -pl'ate to limitoutward pivotahmovement of saidfront plate, said front plate-having I translucent portions with-identifying indicia thereon-andforming-therewith a housingsocket means disposed between's'aid plates for supporting alamp, resilient means positioned'within the housing and having respective-portions thereo-f'enaging said lamp and said front plate, and conductors connecting said means for energizing said lamp "to illuminate said indicia, said'front plate being pivotally mounted on said ears and-forming thereon a pivotal button whereby said resilient portion normally u'rgessaid front plate outwardly and away from said base plate formaintaining said lamp energized and-whereby pivoting of said front plate inwardly displaces said resilient portion engaging the front plate toshort out thelamp and energize the sound circuit.

2. A simplified electrical, illuminating indicator adaptedto be used in-an electrical sound circuit comprising a base plate engageable with a supporting structure, a front plate having translucent portionswith identifying indicia thereon forming therewith a housingysocketrneans disposed between said plates for supporting a'larnpfresilient means positioned within the housing, and conductors connecting said means for energizing said lamp to illuminate said indicia, said front plate being pivotally mounted relative to said base plate and forming thereon av pivotal button, said resilient means including a U-shapedportion having a leg portion adjacent/said socket and adapted to engage the end of the lamp forming electrical contact therewith, and having a second substantially U-shaped member having a leg portion thereof resiliently connected to said other leg of said firstmentioned U-shaped portion, the other leg of said second U-shaped member engaging the front plate, said second U-shaped member normally urging said front plate outwardly and away from said base plate for maintaining said lamp energized and whereby pivoting of said front plate inwardly displaces said second U-shaped member to short circuit the lamp and energize the sound circuit. 1

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient means includes finger means for frictionally securing thereto a conductor by wedging the same therebetween and forming therewith a solderless snap connection.

4. A simplified electrical, illuminating indicator adapted to be used in an electrical sound circuit comprising a molded plastic base plate adapted to'be secured to a supporting structure, a molded plastic front plate pivoted thereto having top and bottom and side walls projecting rearwardly therefrom, said bottom wall having a flange portion cooperating with said base plate to limit outward pivotal movement of said front plate, said front plate cooperating with the base to form a housing and having translucent portions with identifying indicia thereon, socket means disposed between said plates for supporting a lamp and comprising a U-shaped stamped metal lamp-receiving clip secured to the base and a separate resilient sheet metal contact means secured to the base and positioned within the housing and having one portion engaging said lamp and a second portion engaging said front plate adjacent said lamp base and urging the plate outwardly from the base, and conductors connecting said clip and contact means for normally energizing said lamp to illuminate said indicia, a conductor connecting the contact member to said electrical sound circuit, movement of the pivotally mounted front plate causing the second portion of the contact member to engage the lamp base and complete the circuit to the electrical sound circuit and to short out the lamp.

References Cited in the file-of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,977 Johnson et al. Sept. 16, 1924 1,665,132 Fisher Apr. 3, 1928 1,871,650 Bartley Aug. 16, 1932 1,875,931 Mihalka et a1. Sept. 6, 1932 1,961,865 Remington June 5, 1934 2,097,625 Langlotz Nov. 2, 1937 2,225,584 Del Camp Dec. 17, 1940 2,549,134 Shaback Apr. 17, 1951 2,673,914 Sundt Mar. 30, 1954 2,769,069 Christy et al Oct. 30, 1956 2,802,082 Kalwo Aug. 6, 1957 

